6 Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey
Searching for the “best medical malpractice lawyer near me” turns up a wall of names, and it’s hard to tell substance from marketing. Medical malpractice is one of the most demanding areas of law there is, so the right lawyer matters more here than almost anywhere else. Below is what actually separates a strong New Jersey malpractice attorney from the rest, followed by six respected firms, ours among them.
What to Look for in a New Jersey Malpractice Lawyer
Before any list of names, it helps to know what you’re evaluating. A few things genuinely predict whether a firm can carry a malpractice case.
New Jersey requires an Affidavit of Merit early in most malpractice suits, a sworn statement from a qualified expert that there’s a real basis for the claim. Cases live or die on medical experts, so a firm’s ability to find and fund credible ones is not optional. These cases are expensive and slow, which is why nearly all malpractice lawyers work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover. A real trial record matters too, because hospitals and their insurers settle differently with a firm known to try cases. And deadlines are unforgiving: New Jersey generally allows two years to file, with special and often shorter timelines when the patient is a child. With that lens, here are six firms worth knowing.
1. O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble
Paul O’Connor is a partner at O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble whose practice centers on serious medical negligence. He co-counseled what the firm describes as New Jersey’s largest wrongful birth case, and his reported results include verdicts and settlements in failure-to-diagnose cancer and birth-related cases. His recognitions include selection as a Super Lawyer, a Ten Leaders in Civil Trial and Personal Injury Law designation, and an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. The firm handles the full range of malpractice work, from birth injury to surgical error and misdiagnosis.
2. Gary S. Shapiro, Shapiro & Sternlieb, LLC
Gary S. Shapiro co-founded Shapiro & Sternlieb and has spent his career representing people injured by medical negligence, among other areas. He has argued at the appellate level, including before the New Jersey Supreme Court and Appellate Division, and has been recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers and a Top Rated Personal Injury attorney by Super Lawyers.
3. William L. Gold, Bendit Weinstock, PA
A partner at Bendit Weinstock, William L. Gold brings an unusual background in aeronautical engineering to a practice certified as a Civil Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court. He is known for lecturing on medical malpractice, including at continuing-education seminars, and for teaching and writing in the field.
4. Dennis M. Donnelly, The Donnelly Firm
Dennis M. Donnelly is a senior partner with decades of experience and numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts in cases involving serious medical negligence, including birth injuries. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group of leading trial lawyers, and has lectured on medical-legal topics.
5. Ernest P. Fronzuto, Fronzuto Law Group
Ernest P. Fronzuto is the managing partner of Fronzuto Law Group and a Certified Civil Trial Attorney. His practice focuses on medical malpractice, product liability, and catastrophic injury, and he has been involved in notable New Jersey Supreme Court cases in the malpractice arena, along with recurring recognition as a Super Lawyer.
6. Michael J. Epstein, The Epstein Law Firm
Michael J. Epstein, admitted to the bar in 1996, practices in medical malpractice, personal injury, and civil litigation. He has appeared on Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers lists, is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, and belongs to organizations such as the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Talk to a New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Whichever firm you choose, choose one with the experts, the trial record, and the resources these cases demand. If you’d like to talk through what happened to you or a family member, O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble offers a free, confidential consultation. Contact us or call (908) 928-9200, and we’ll give you an honest read on whether there’s a case worth pursuing.